HMB Ballot Measures on Cannabis Regulation

Measure MM

ADVISORY VOTE ONLY: Should the City draft and adopt an ordinance to allow and regulate commercial manufacturing of cannabis products on sites in the City’s IND (Industrial) Zoning District and/or on existing greenhouse sites in the City’s A-1 (Agricultural/Exclusive Floriculture) Zoning District?

Primary Argument in Favor:

According to the City of HMB, 69% of voters favored Proposition 64, which legalized a regulated cannabis industry statewide two years ago. These cannabis ballot measures are a continuation of the process to implement a local, regulated cannabis industry in alignment with the mandate of our voters from 2016.

The Coastside Cannabis Coalition supports this advisory measure to draft and adopt an ordinance to allow and locally regulate commercial manufacturing of cannabis products on sites in the City’s IND Zoning District and/or on existing greenhouse sites in the City’s A-1 Zoning District.

Eligible IND Zoning Districts include Spanish Town on Hwy. 92 and may include properties on Lewis Foster Drive that fall outside of required set backs from schools, daycares, and other child care centers. Manufacturing in A-1 zoning would allow cultivators to process their cannabis into derivative products onsite, without having to move the cannabis to another location for processing, thereby reducing overall risk of theft or diversion.

Cannabis manufacturing can appear to be one of the scarier aspects of licensed cannabis activities. However, regulated cannabis manufacturing activities must utilize engineer-approved, closed-loop extraction systems. These are the same certified extraction systems used for botanical extractions in mainstream industries such as essential oils or pharmaceuticals. These closed-loop systems must be maintained in C1D1 blast-proof rooms, and further manufacturing must take place in clean laboratory spaces and commercial kitchens.

We believe that the perceived risks of cannabis manufacturing activities are already addressed and managed by the required safety, security, and environmental protection measures included in state cannabis regulations. Passing this measure to allow local cannabis manufacturing would support the full value chain of cannabis activities on the coast, allowing cultivators to produce their own products locally and entrepreneurs to access all aspects of commercial cannabis activities allowable.

Learn more about state regulations, public safety, security provisions, preventing youth access, environmental impact, odor/light control measures, and more on our Fear vs. Fact Sheet.

Rebuttal to Argument Against:

We support allowing well-regulated and limited local manufacturing activities - within the context of what is right for our unique community - as an extension of cultivation activities, in order to allow local farmers and entrepreneurs to access all aspects of the industry required to run sustainable businesses that will support our local economy.

The reality of any cannabis manufacturing facility is that no members of the public will have access to the operations or products produced at the facility. These products can only be accessed through regulated dispensaries after undergoing strict third party laboratory testing for quality assurance/consumer safety, and after passing through required tracking and distribution channels, as mandated by State regulations.

If our community chooses to allow limited manufacturing operations in industrial zones, locals and tourists alike would never know where there operations were located or what products were being produced. It would not have any effect on our families, children, and community - other than opening up more jobs, tax revenues, and economic development.

Regarding medical applications of concentrated cannabis products, the cannabis derivative products produced by cannabis manufacturers are the evolution of the cannabis industry. There is nothing medical about smoking raw plant material, and the true medical cannabis products are primarily produced with the cannabis oils made by manufacturers. It is the future of the cannabis industry from a medical perspective.

Learn more about state regulations, public safety, security provisions, preventing youth access, environmental impact, odor/light control measures, and more on our Fear vs. Fact Sheet.